Plotosus

Plotosus

Taxobox
name = "Plotosus"



image_caption = Striped eel catfish, "Plotosus lineatus"
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Plotosidae
genus = "Plotosus"
genus_authority = La Cepède, 1803
type_species = "Platystacus anguillaris"
type_species_authority = Bloch, 1794
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Plotosus canius"
Hamilton, 1822
"Plotosus fisadoha"
Ng & Sparks, 2002
"Plotosus limbatus"
Valenciennes, 1840
"Plotosus lineatus"
(Thunberg, 1787)
"Plotosus nkunga"
Gomon & Taylor, 1982
"Plotosus papuensis"
Weber, 1910


synonyms = "Deportator" Gistel, 1848

"Plotosus" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Plotosidae. It includes six species, "P. canius", "P. fisadoha", "P. limbatus", "P. lineatus", "P. nkunga", "P. papuensis".cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF]

Distribution

"P. canius" originates from coastal regions of Thailand, Sundaland, Sulawesi, Moluccas, and India, and into the lower Mekong River. "P. fisadoha" is known only from Southeastern Madagascar. "P. limbatus" inhabits marine and brackish waters in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. "P. lineatus" occurs in the eastern Mediterranean, marine waters in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, and sometimes entering freshwaters in East Africa and Madagascar. "P. nkunga" is distributed in southern Africa from Boknes to Boteler Point, and possibly to Zanzibar, in marine waters but also entering freshwater. "P. papuensis" ranges in southern New Guinea island.

Description

"P. canius" reaches the largest size, up to 150 centimetres (59 in) TL. "P. limbatus" grows to 41 cm (16 in) SL. "P. lineatus" grows to 32 cm (13 in) TL. "P. nkunga" grows to about 51 cm (20 in) SL. "P. papuensis" is recorded to reach 55 cm (22 in) TL, though it may reach 100 cm (40 in) TL according to local fishermen.

All species have been confirmed to be venomous except for "P. fisadoha". The anterior spines of the dorsal and pectoral fins can inflict painful wounds. In "P. lineatus", the highly venomous serrate spine of the first dorsal and each of the pectoral fins may even be fatal.FishBase species|genus=Plotosus|species=canius|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Plotosus|species=fisadoha|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Plotosus|species=limbatus|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Plotosus|species=lineatus|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Plotosus|species=nkunga|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Plotosus|species=papuaensis|year=2007|month=Aug]

Ecology

"P. canius" is found mostly in estuaries and lagoons, and sometimes up rivers in nearly fresh waters. It occurs in the lower parts of rivers in freshwater or brackish water and in coastal seas. "P. limbatus" occurs in estuaries and along open coasts. "P. lineatus" is the only catfish found in coral reefs; it is also found in estuaries, tide pools and open coasts. "P. papuensis" is found in turbid rivers and swampy lagoons and backwaters.

Juveniles of "Plotosus" species often form dense aggregations; in "P. lineatus" juveniles form dense ball-shaped schools of about 100 fish, while adults are solitary or occur in smaller groups of around 20 and are known to hide under ledges during the day..

Most species feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes. Adult "P. lineatus" search and stir the sand incessantly for crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish. "P. nkunga" feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates.

"P. lineatus" is an oviparous fish; this species has demersal eggs and planktonic larvae.

Physiology

Interestingly, unlike the freshwater "Siluriformes" from which it evolved, "Plotosus" has evolved long ampullary canals in its electrosensory organs (originally termed "ampullae of Lorenzini", though now the name is not used) as the voltage gradient across the skin is less than in fresh water and so they must extend deeper into the fish where the difference will be more marked in order that the maximal volatage be registered. Such deep canals are found in elasmobranchs, though not in the freshwater stringray "Potamotrygon", indicating this time "loss" of extended canals rather than gain.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Plotōsus — Plotōsus, nach Lacépède Untergattung des Wels, die zweite Rückenflosse ist gestrahlt u. wie die Afterflosse sehr lang, beide vereinigen sich mit der Schwanzflosse; sind ostindische Fische; Art: Aalförmiger P. (P. anguillaris, Platystacus ang.) …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Plotosus — unguruodegiai rifiniai šamai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas gentis atitikmenys: lot. Plotosus angl. eel catfishes; striped catfishes rus. плотосы; угрехвостые сомы ryšiai: platesnis terminas – unguruodegiai šamai siauresnis …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Plotosus lineatus — Gestreifter Korallenwels Gestreifte Korallenwelse (Plotosus lineatus), juvenil Systematik Teilklasse …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Plotosus lineatus — Poisson chat rayé …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Plotosus canius — rudasis unguruodegis šamas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Plotosus canius angl. canine catfish eel; eel catfish rus. бурый угрехвост ryšiai: platesnis terminas – unguruodegiai rifiniai šamai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Plotosus limbatus — juodapelekis unguruodegis šamas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Plotosus limbatus angl. darkfin eel catfish rus. темнопёрый угрехвост ryšiai: platesnis terminas – unguruodegiai rifiniai šamai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Plotosus lineatus — dygusis unguriapelekis šamas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Plotosus lineatus angl. banded catfish; striped catfish rus. колючий морской сом; полосатый угрехвост кумал; угрехвостый сом ryšiai:… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Plotosus — Plo·to·sus (plo toґsəs) a genus of catfish. P. lineaґtus is a venomous species of the Indian and Pacific Oceans that has plototoxin on its spines and may be deadly to animals cut or scratched by the spines …   Medical dictionary

  • plotosus — plo·to·sus …   English syllables

  • plotosus — səs noun Usage: capitalized Etymology: New Latin, prob from Greek plōtos floating, swimming + Latin osus ose; akin to Greek plein to sail, float more at flow : a genus (the type of the family Plotosidae) of marine catfishes …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”